ZODIAC CORSAIR AUTOMATIC WATCH, RED MARBLE, CA. 1965

Here we present a superb Zodiac Corsair Automatic watch, in its gold-plated version with a date display and a red marbled dial, part of Zodiac’s production from the late 1960s—a period marked by great creativity in watch design. 

Originally launched as an elegant and affordable automatic watch, the Corsair line quickly evolved to embrace bolder design elements in line with the trends of the time. It was against this backdrop that more distinctive variations emerged, such as colorful or marbled dials, including this red marbled dial with iridescent hues, which was also available in a green version.

Here is what René Calame, the head of Zodiac, said in 1965:

One of the key reasons for our current growth lies in our commitment to aesthetic innovation: Zodiac has carved out a prominent position in the watch market with its special models “Glorious,” “Olympos,” “Corsair,” and “Sea Wolf.” In terms of research, we have also pursued a specific strategy, dedicating ourselves for over 20 years to the development of automatic and water-resistant models for men. From the very beginning, we adopted the principle—and the facts have proven us right—that the automatic watch was the second watch a customer would purchase. This stems from evolving tastes and standards of living.

Our first priority was to develop, in collaboration with several of our fellow manufacturers, an automatic movement flat enough to allow for an elegant and functionally perfect case design. Building on this movement, we have created—and continue to explore—models that, while featuring a round dial, stand out from classic watches with their distinctive lines. An example of this approach is our “Corsair” model: a diamond-shaped watch with a round dial and a distinctive face.

To sum up, I could say that our approach has led us to create watches with much more distinctive features than those of most of our competitors. We are now reaping the rewards of the efforts we have made and will continue to make in this direction. Indeed, we are convinced that watch buyers will become increasingly sensitive to the “personalization” of a model in the future and will seek above all to own a timepiece that reflects their tastes and personality.

This model stands out for its gold-plated case—typical of dress watches from this era—paired with a textured dial that breaks from traditional finishes. The overall design reflects the influence of 1970s aesthetics, a time when Swiss brands sought to distinguish themselves amid the emergence of new technologies and growing competition. Equipped with a Zodiac automatic movement featuring a stop-seconds function and produced during a pivotal era preceding the quartz crisis, this version of the Corsair captures a time when traditional mechanical watchmaking still relied on aesthetics and diversity to appeal to consumers. An intriguing and truly unique timepiece.

Manufacturer: Zodiac
Model: Corsair Automatic
Reference: N/A
Year: Circa 1965
Materials: Gold-plated
Dimensions: Width 30 mm, Height 38 mm 
Movement: Caliber 70-72 Automatic, Zodiac 
Strap: Leather, 18 mm wide
Box/papers: None